Match box



J. D. LERCH MATCH BOX April 19, 1932.

Filed Jan, 24, 1931 Inventor J10 JJera/v Patented Apr. 19, 1932 nmrso stares JOHN D. LERGH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH BOX Application filed January 24, 1931. Serial No. 511,081.

The present invention relates to a match box and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby the matches will be ignited upon being withdrawn therefrom.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a match box of the character described embodying novel means for shieldprovide a match box of the character set forth 1" panying drawings wherein like characters of ing the heads of the matches therein from the flame of a match which is being withdrawn from the box.

Still another object of the invention is to embodying novel means for releasably retaining the matches in position therein for convenient withdrawal one at a time and in a manner to prevent the matches from accidentally falling or dropping out of the box.

reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a match box in accordance with this invention with the cover closed.

1 on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the match box with the cover open.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical cross section on an enlarged scale and taken substantially Figure at is a view in elevation showing the blank from whlch the match box is formed. Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates the back or rear wall of the box and 2 is the front wall thereof. The rear and'front walls 1 and 2 are connected by the integral bottom portion 3 which is connected to said front walls along the fold lines 4 and 5 respectively. The back wall 1 is provided with a rigid, upright extension 6 with which the i cover 7 is connected integrally along the fold line 8. The reference numeral 9 designates a flap connected integrally with the top or cover-7 along the fold line 10. Flaps 11 and V 12 are formed integrally at one end of the rear and front walls 1 and 2 respectively for disposition in overlapping relation to each other when the box is assembled in a manner to provide one side wall of the box, said flaps 11 and 12 being secured together in any desired manner. A flap 13 is formed integrally with the other end of the back wall 1 of the boxand is of materially less length than the flap l1 and has formed integrally therewith along the fold line 14 a partition 15 which divides the box into front and rear compartments for the reception of the matches 16 having their heads 17 disposed for rest on the bottom tree of the box, as illustrated to advantage in F i 'ure 8 of the drawings. At its free end the partition 15 has formed integrally therewith a flap 18 for disposition at right angles thereto, the flap 18 being secured to the inner side of the flap 11 in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive. The other end of the front wall 2 has formed integrally therewith along the fold line 19 a flap 20 which ex tends from the front wall 2 when the box is assembled to the partition 15 and overlaps the flap 13 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. It will thus be seen that the flap 20 only forms one of the side walls of the front compartment of the box and the flaps 13 and 20 form the corresponding sidewall of the other compartment of the box.

It will be noted that the lower edge of the partition 15 is spaced from the bottom 3 of the box and by reason of this construction and arrangement the partition 15 functions as a means for releasably retaining the matches in position in the box.

Each of the compartments is provided in its upper portion with a .pair of opposed abrasive surfaces or strips 21 which are mounted on the inner sides of the rear and front walls 1 and 2 and at on opposite sides of the partition 15. As will be obvious, the abrasive strips 21 provide striking surfaces for the matches. The matches extend between the pairs of striking or abrasive strips of each compartment and project thereabove.

Below the striking surfaces, the partition 15 is corrugated to provide a series of longitudinal ribs 22 which bear against the matches in the front and rear compartments. The ribs 22 provide means for frictionally retaining the matches in position.

In use, when it is desired to remove a match, the upper projecting end portion thereof is gripped and said match is withdrawn in a manner to force the enlarged head 17 thereof past the lower edge of the partition 15. The heads of the matches riding over the ribs 22 cause the matches to be withdrawn with a jerking movement so that when the match head passes the uppermost of the ribs 22 same will be jerked rapidly between the striking surfaces 21 and will be ignited thereby. As the matches which are withdrawn pass the ribs 22, said ribs, which are compressed by the matches, will spring toward the front and rear walls of the match box to prevent the flame from the ignited match head which is being withdrawn from passing downwardly into the box and igniting the matches remaining therein.

It is believed that the many advantages of a match box in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In a match package, a pair of outer walls provided with means joining the same, a partition between the outer wall, abrasive elements carried by the upper portion of the outer wall and a partition between the outer Wall to divide the same into separate chambers, matches in said chambers, said partition being corrugated transversely and at right angles to the matches to traverse the matches and urge the same laterally.

2. In a match package, outer walls provided with means joining the same, a partition between the outer wall, abrasive elements carried by the upper portion of the outer wall and a partition between the outer wall to divide the same into separate chambers, matches in said chambers, said partition being corrugated transversely and at right angles to the matches to traverse the matches and urge the same laterally, and an abrasive element carried by said partition.

3. In a match package, a pair of outer walls provided with means joining the same, a partition between the outer wall, abrasive elements carried by the upper portion of the outer wall and a partition between the outer wall to divide the same into separate chambers, matches in said chambers, said partition being corrugated transversely and at JOHN D. LERCH. 

